Barro Negro
January 14th, 2009
Barro negro from Trova Imports is made in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico outside Oaxaca city in San Bartolo Coyotepec. The mud (barro) is brought down from the mountains of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca on the back of mules. Originally orange, in color, the mud is soaked in water for days to weeks or until it is the right consistency for molding pottery (candle holders, vases, decorative figures, and hudreds of more objects) using primitive tools such as bottle tops, points of pens, nails, ect. Once the object has been molded, it is placed in a kiln, where through oxidation, the orange mud turns black. It is then polished and sold in the market.
The barro negro industry supports the indigenous communities in San Bartolo. Most of the barro negro in Oaxaca comes from San Bartolo Coyotepec.
In Nicaragua has its own barro negro called ceramica negra. The process for making the pottery is the same, but the designs are different. This pottery comes from Mategalpa, Nicaragua, and it also supports the local artisans in preserving thier art and traditions.
Categories: Mexico, Nicaragua | Tags: barro negro, black pottery, ceramica negra, Indigenous, Mategalpa, Mexico, Nicaragua, Oaxaca, San Bartolo Coyotepec, Trova, Trova Imports
